Heavy metal titans Judas Priest have announced their first album since 2008, and their 17th studio album in all. Redeemer of Souls will be released on Columbia in the UK and Epic in the US on 14 July.

Guitarist Glenn Tipton told fans not to expect wild experimentation. "Sometimes in the past we may have come under fire for being too adventurous musically – so we have listened," he said. "From start to finish, Redeemer of Souls is 18 songs of pure classic-Priest metal."

Those who scoff at the notion of the West Midlands metallers being adventurous should note that Priest at one point recorded three songs with chart-dominating 80s producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman, though sadly they have never seen the light of day.

Judas Priest released their first album, Rocka Rolla, in 1974. They are credited with being an inspiration to the New Wave of British heavy metal bands in the late 1970s and early 80s, and their 1980 album, British Steel, is considered one of the great metal albums.

Redeemer of Souls will be their first album with guitarist Richie Faulkner, who in 2011 replaced founder member KK Downing.